Systems and methods to provide digital amenities for local access

ABSTRACT

One embodiment includes a network apparatus at a store for allowing digital amenities to be accessed at the store by a mobile device of a user. The network apparatus includes a network interface, a storage module to keep digital amenities and a computing module. The network interface can be designed to couple to the mobile device at the store, and to a computing device outside the store. The network interface can be designed to recognize the mobile device at the store based on a piece of software related to the store in the mobile device. The computing module can be designed to help the mobile device to access a first digital amenity from the storage module in view of the piece of software. Based on the access, a second digital amenity from the computing device can be pre-stored at the storage module.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application:

(I) is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/405,366,filed on Feb. 27, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,666,732, entitled “Systemsand Methods to Provide Digital Amenities for Local Access,” which ishereby incorporated herein by reference; and

(II) claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/448,662, filed on Mar. 21, 2011, entitled “Systems and methods toprovide digital amenities for local stores,” which is herebyincorporated herein by reference; and

(III) claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/488,798, filed on May 23, 2011, entitled “Systems and methods toprovide digital amenities for local stores,” which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

This application is also related to:

(I) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/411,926, filed on Nov.10, 2010, entitled “Systems and methods to provide digital amenities forlocal stores,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; and

(II) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/420,885, filed on Dec.8, 2010, entitled “Systems and methods to provide digital amenities forlocal stores,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Description of the Related Art

Mobile devices have been spreading like wild fire. Even very youngchildren are using them extensively. For years, the main application ofmobile devices has been making phone calls. But with the proliferationof smart phones and other types of high-performance mobile devices,people have been using these devices for numerous other applications,such as playing games and watching videos. Another major development isthe significant increase in the popularity of cloud computing, where theapplications are stored in large data farms. Remotely accessing largebandwidth applications quickly has become a major burden to thenetworks.

Imagine you are at an Internet café trying to watch a movie from a videosite via a cellular network. It is on a Sunday and a major game, such asthe Super Bowl, is played. Assume a number of customers are using thenetwork with their mobile devices to watch the game. At the same time,other customers are using the network to access and play high-speedvideo games that need a lot of bandwidth. Very likely, watching yourmovie would not be a satisfying experience because the amount of time todownload your movie is too long. With limited bandwidth and reducedspeed, other customers probably would not be in much better shape thanyou. Such annoyance will lead to customer dissatisfaction of theInternet café, adversely affecting their business.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that there is still a need forbetter information access via wireless devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Many stores would like to provide different types of digital amenitiesto their customers. The amenities could be electronic newspapers andmagazines, e-books, music, video, electronic games and advertisements.In one embodiment, the present invention provides a network box at astore for allowing digital amenities to be accessed at the store. Thenetwork box includes a network interface to couple to mobile devices atthe store. The network interface could also be coupled to a computingdevice outside the store. This computing device can belong to the storeor to a parent company of the store. In another example, this computingdevice can belong to an independent entity. The network box alsoincludes a storage device and a computing device. The storage device canbe used to keep the digital amenities. In one embodiment, in addition toproviding services through the digital amenities, the network box alsooperates as a wireless network access point for mobile devices at thestore.

Assume a user walks into the store with a mobile device. In one example,a piece of software related to the store, such as a store app, waspreviously downloaded into the device. The network interface couldautomatically recognize the device in view of the piece of software inthe device, and allows the user to use the device to access digitalamenities in the storage device. There could be different digitalamenities, and the user accesses a first digital amenity. In view of theaccess, the network box could access a second digital amenity from thecomputing device, and pre-load it in the storage device.

As an example, the user accesses today's NY Times to read. Then thecomputing device analyzes such access and determines to accesstomorrow's NY Times when it becomes available. For example, next day at4 am in the morning, the network box could access that day's NY Timesand keeps in the box to anticipate the NY Times to be accessed at thestore. If the user goes to the store again the next day, the access timeto get the NY Times from the network box should be significantlyreduced.

To continue on with the example, for the next two weeks, the network boxalways pre-loads that day's NY Times in early hours. Assume that for theentire next two weeks, no one accesses NY Times from the network boxagain. In view of the lack of interest, the computing device could thendelete all the NY Times from its storage and stop pre-loading NY Times.

Different digital amenities could be kept at the storage device. In oneexample, a number of digital amenities are tailored to the store. Forexample, if the store is a bicycle store, one type of digital amenitycan be cycling electronic magazines.

The network box does not have to be limited to information access. Inone embodiment, the computing device could allow a user to post a pieceof information for other users to access. For example, after a user hasfinished reading an article on Steve Jobs at the store through herelectronic reading device, the user writes a comment on the article, andsends it to the network box. And the network box could have the commentlinked to the article. In the future, when other users access thearticle, the comment can be attached at the end of the article.

In one embodiment, the network box keeps track of at least some of theprior uses of users at the store. Based on such information, the networkbox could create user profiles. Then when such a user gets to the store,through information in her user profile, the network box could recommendthe user to access a certain digital amenity. For example, the box couldask whether the user wants to access NY Times if the user has accessedit before at the store. In another example, the box would automaticallydownload that day's NY Times to the user's mobile device when the usershows up at the store.

In one embodiment, the store has different sections catering todifferent types of customers. Depending on which section the user is atthe store, different digital amenities could be recommended to the user.

In one embodiment, the network box is coupled to more than one computingdevice outside the store. The network interface could be configured toaccess different types of digital amenities from the different computingdevices outside the store. For example, the network box could accessdigital amenities regarding its own products from one computing device,and NY Times from another computing device.

The network box could be of different dimensions. In one embodiment, thenetwork box has the dimension of a USB thumb drive.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrates by way ofexample the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an Enhanced Network Access Point device(ENAP) according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 2A-B show different attributes of a networking module in an ENAPaccording to different embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows different attributes of a computing module in an ENAPaccording to different embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows different attributes of a storage module in an ENAPaccording to different embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a process of a mobile device requesting access to a store'samenities according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a process of a store determining to allow a mobile deviceto access the store's digital amenities according to one embodiment ofthe invention.

FIGS. 7A-B show different attributes regarding pre-loading amenities toand removing amenities from an ENAP according to different embodimentsof the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a method performed by an ENAP according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIGS. 9A-B show examples or attributes of digital amenities according todifferent embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 10 shows a number of attributes regarding a user profile accordingto different embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 11 shows a number of attributes regarding a store station accordingto different embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12 shows a number of attributes of an e-room according to differentembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13 shows a number of attributes of a local search engine accordingto different embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 14A-B show examples of transaction choices regarding digitalamenities of a store according to different embodiments of theinvention.

Same numerals in FIGS. 1-14 are assigned to similar elements in all thefigures. Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with referenceto FIGS. 1-13. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciatethat the detailed description given herein with respect to these figuresis for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond theselimited embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is an Enhanced Network AccessPoint device (ENAP). The ENAP can be installed at a store. In oneapproach, the ENAP can be wirelessly connected to a back-end server viaa network, such as the Internet. The back-end server can be the store'sserver, or can be a server managed by another entity. The back-endserver can be a server farm with multiple servers. A user or a customeris at the store with a mobile device. With the ENAP, the mobile devicecan access at least some of the store's digital amenities, which can beat the store's server. In another approach, at least some of the store'sdigital amenities can be at the ENAP.

In one embodiment, the ENAP can be a software or software/hardwarehybrid, and may be implemented on a programmable computing device thatcan be configured by software stored in memory. Examples of differentoperations that can be implemented in software for the ENAP include aweb server, a web site, and an application server. The ENAP can be atleast partially implemented on a card, such as an interface card for anetwork device or a computing device.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of an ENAP 100, a network device, thatincludes a networking module 102, a computing module 104, and a storagemodule 106.

FIGS. 2A-B show different attributes of a networking module 102 in theENAP 100 according to different embodiments. The networking module 102can include one or more network interfaces, such as WiFi, Bluetooth,WiMAX, Ethernet, or cellular interface, for, such as, local area access,broadband access and/or general Internet access. The network module 102can be connected to the mobile device using one of the wireless networkinterfaces, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet and WiMAX. And the ENAPcan be connected to the network outside of the store to a computingdevice, using one of the wireless network interfaces, such as WiMAX,Ethernet and cellular. In one embodiment, the computing device can beoutside the store and not under the control of the store. In oneexample, the networking module 102 offers mobile to broadband access,such as Femto.

With the users being in close proximity to the ENAP, bandwidth andlatency constraints to access at least the digital amenities in the ENAPcan be significantly reduced. Regarding bandwidth issues, currentlyVerizon's broadband bandwidth is less than 100 Megabits per second, andthe cellular bandwidths from AT&T or Verizon's 3G or 4G networktypically are much less. A typical 3D TV streaming video requires about20 Megabits per second and 1080p HD TV streaming video requires morethan 4 Megabits per second. If a store has 30 customers watching videosvia Verizon from their mobile devices, the viewing enjoyment would besignificantly impaired. However, it is not difficult for a local networkaccess point to provide 150 Megabits per second of bandwidth per accesspoint. And if the typical usage of the estimated number ofcustomers/users in a store exceeds 150 Megabits per second, a store canprovide multiple ENAPs to satisfy their bandwidth request.

Regarding latency issues, the typical delay of a data packet travellingfrom coast to coast in the United States can be 100 milliseconds (ms) orhigher. Often in a wide area network, a data packet may have to travelthrough a path much longer than the physical distance between thecorresponding mobile device and application server. Also, in a cellularnetwork, instead of directly travelling from the mobile device to theapplication server, a data packet typically needs to travel to themobile service provider's core data network before going to theInternet. Therefore it can be difficult to determine the path of a datapacket in a wide area network and to estimate the network latency of thedata packet. Such typically unpredictable and long delays cansignificantly hamper the satisfaction of using certain applications,such as certain popular fast action games. For example, a car racinggame or a shooting game can require a user's response time in the orderof 20 ms. However, the typical delay of a local area network is lessthan 1 ms. With ENAP working in stores based on local area networks,signal delay issues are significantly reduced.

Another issue can be signal strength of an ENAP. In one example, wifisignal strength is typically limited to 100 meters. It is not verychallenging for an ENAP to have similar signal strengths. If longerdistances are needed within a store, one again can provide additionalENAPs to the store at different locations.

FIG. 3 shows different attributes of a computing module 104 in the ENAP100 according to different embodiments. The computing module 104enhances network access to the mobile device. The computing module caninclude the software/firmware to perform, for example, one or more ofthe following and other operations, such as handling DNS mapping,downloading a store application, being the store's service access point,being the server side module to communicate with the store application,and serving digital amenities. Examples of the store application includean iPhone app or Blackberry app.

FIG. 4 shows different attributes of a storage module 106 in the ENAP100 according to different embodiments. The storage module 106 canstore, for example, DNS entry for the ENAP domain name, storeapplications, one or more web pages, and one or more files for thestore's digital amenities.

As an example, the ENAP 100 includes a broadband gateway, which can be abusiness/retailer broadband gateway, a residential broadband gateway ora corporate/office broadband gateway.

As another example, the ENAP includes a broadband gateway, an accesspoint for the mobile device (such as a WiFi access point), and anEthernet switch.

Regarding physical dimensions, as examples, the ENAP has a dimensionsimilar to a WiFi access point, a broadband gateway, a cellular phone, acredit card, or a USB thumb drive. In one embodiment, an ENAP can beincorporated into a common object, such as a vase, a clock, a pictureframe, a calendar, a trophy, a bookend, a flower pot, a candle stickholder, a desk lamp, a coaster, a dish, a tray, a mat, a pen holder, orother types of objects with ornamental design.

In one embodiment, the store can have more than one access points. Forexample, the store can have a private and a public access point. As thepublic access point, the ENAP in the store can be the connection pointto customers' wireless devices. As the private access point of thestore, the ENAP can be connected to the store's broadband gateway(which, in one implementation, is also included in the ENAP) to accessto a back-end server. In another example, the ENAP can also operate asthe back-end server, which can be in the store.

As another example of having more than one access point, the store canhave more than one ENAP, with each covering an area of the store. Forexample, one ENAP can be used per room of the store, one ENAP percorner, one ENAP per 1000 square meters of the store, or even one ENAPper table in the store. In another example, more than one ENAP can be atone area of the store to provide higher bandwidth to that area of thestore.

In one implementation, the ENAP can replace a network access point atthe store. For example, the ENAP can replace the store's current networkaccess point. In another example, the ENAP can replace the store'sexisting broadband gateway and/or access point to their customers'mobile devices, such as its WiFi access point. In yet another example,the ENAP can be installed as an additional access point to the store'sexisting network access point(s).

FIG. 5 shows a process 200 of a mobile device requesting access to astore's amenities according to one embodiment, and FIG. 6 shows aprocess 300 of a store determining to allow a mobile device to accessthe store's digital amenities according to one embodiment. For example,the user connects its mobile device to the store's ENAP through thestore's local area network, which can be a WiFi network. Through theconnection, the mobile device becomes aware 202 of an identifyingaddress of the ENAP, which can be designed to specifically or uniquelyidentify the ENAP. An example of such an address is the MAC address ofthe ENAP. Also, through the connection, the ENAP can become aware of themobile device's address. After the connection, the user enters thestore's address (e.g. www.store.com) into the mobile device to request204 for amenities. Through the local area network, the ENAP directs therequest to its back-end server.

In one embodiment, the mobile device includes the store applicationpreviously downloaded into the device. The store application can add 204the mobile device's address and the ENAP identifying address in therequest to the back-end server. The back-end server includes a NAPdatabase, which keeps one or more ENAP identifying addresses, andcompares 302 the received ENAP identifying address with the one or moreENAP identifying addresses in its NAP database. If there is a match 304,and if it is determined 306 that the mobile device is in the ENAPnetwork, the server responds to the mobile device through the ENAP,allowing 308 the mobile device to access and enjoy the store's amenitiesvia the ENAP.

In another embodiment, the mobile device does not have the storeapplication. Again, the mobile device sends the request to the back-endserver. In this case, the request may be sent by a browser and may notinclude the ENAP identifying address. Then the mobile device receives208 the store application. Based on the store application, a subsequentrequest is sent to the back-end server. This request includes the ENAPidentifying address, and as explained above, the mobile device can thenbe allowed to access the store's amenities.

In one approach, the ENAP serves as both the store's network accesspoint and service access point for at least some of the services offeredby the store. The store's digital amenities, or at least some of them,can be in the ENAP. One way to establish the ENAP to be the serviceaccess point is to 312 include in the response from the back-end serverto the request for connection from the mobile device the ENAP domainname (e.g. local.store.com); and instruct the mobile device that digitalamenities are at the location of the domain name. When the mobile devicegets the response, the mobile device sends 212 another request to theENAP for the IP address of the ENAP domain name. The ENAP has DNSentries to map or resolve the ENAP domain name to the IP address of theENAP. Upon getting the request, the ENAP can send 314 the IP addresscorresponding to its domain name to the mobile device. After getting theIP address, the mobile device can access 214 amenities from the ENAP.The ENAP is then served as the service access point of the mobiledevice, or as the server of the ENAP domain name. Subsequently, the ENAPcan download the store's amenities, which can be store applications tothe mobile device. In this situation, the store's digital amenities orat least some of them are at the ENAP, and the mobile device can accessthem from the ENAP. The data access time and interaction time foramenities in this approach is typically shorter than the correspondingtime required if the amenities are in the back-end server. One type ofamenities can be games and other interactive media, where access timeand/or interaction time can be important for user satisfaction.

With the ENAP also serving as the service access point, the ENAPtypically needs more storage capacity. In one approach, the ENAP canhave a storage capacity of 100 gigabytes or more, such as 1 terabytes.

In another embodiment, when the user enters the store and connects themobile device to the ENAP, the ENAP also has accessed the mobiledevice's location, such as its GPS location. Subsequently the ENAP sendsthe location information to the back-end server. In addition to the ENAPaddress, the server also can check the location of the mobile device tosee if the mobile device is located at the store or in close proximityto the store. If verified, the server allows the mobile device to accessthe store's digital amenities. This approach allows multiple stores,such as a chain store, to share the same ENAP domain name.

In one embodiment, the back-end server can periodically download oraccess information from the ENAPs of a number of stores. This allows theserver to perform statistical analysis based on the information from themultiple ENAPs.

There are different ways/criteria to pre-load the store's digitalamenities in the ENAP. FIG. 7A shows different attributes regardingpre-loading amenities to the ENAP according to different embodiments.For example, digital amenities can be downloaded to the ENAP and cachedin early morning (based on time) or when the traffic at the store islow. In another approach, when the first person accesses a digitalamenity such as an e-newspaper on a specific day, the first person getsthe amenity from the back-end server. After this first download, thenewspaper can be cached and stored in the ENAP. The next person would beaccessing the newspaper from the ENAP.

In one embodiment, a store typically belongs to a certain category ortype. Customers or users of different type or category of storestypically have certain common preferences regarding digital amenities.Based on the type(s) of the store, certain digital amenities aredownloaded ahead of time. For example, local newspapers are downloadedto a coffee shop ahead of time.

In yet another approach, basic formats of a digital amenity, such as apublication like a magazine, are downloaded ahead of time and stored orcached in the ENAP. One example of a basic format is the table ofcontent, such as for a newspaper. Subsequently, new contents aretransmitted to be incorporated into the pre-downloaded format. In oneembodiment, basic formats are areas that are more constant. For example,a newspaper has its standard layouts, such as the title of thenewspaper, and certain sections with pre-sold advertising. Thesecontents are pre-downloaded. The contents regarding the news of the day,more current or more time-sensitive contents are downloaded, such as inearly morning, or as they become available.

In another approach, based on prior usage, the ENAP can proactivelydownload certain digital information ahead of time to be subsequentlyaccessed. This proactive download can be based on a prediction softwareor statistical analysis. For example, statistically, many of the store'scustomers typically like to access Wall Street Journal when they are atthe store. Then the ENAP can proactively download the Journal each daybefore the store opens.

FIG. 7B shows different attributes regarding removing amenities from theENAP according to different embodiments. For example, an amenity isremoved from the ENAP if the amenity has not been accessed for apredetermined duration of time. In another example, an amenity isremoved from the ENAP after it has been at the ENAP for a predeterminedduration of time. In yet another example, an amenity is removed at aspecific time, such as an expiration date. For example, daily newspaperscan be removed at the end of each day, weekly magazines can be removedat the end of each week. These rules can be combined. For example, anamenity will be removed at a specific time unless the amenity has beenaccessed more than a preset number of times within a preset amount oftime immediately before the specific time.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a method 400 performed by an ENAP or anetwork apparatus. The embodiment summarizes a number of processesdescribed above. The method helps a mobile device of a user accessdigital amenities via the network apparatus at a store, with the networkapparatus having different digital amenities. The method 400 includesrecognizing 402 the mobile device at the store at least in view of apiece of software related to the store in the mobile device; allowing404 the mobile device to access a first digital amenity from the networkapparatus at least in view of the piece of software in the mobiledevice; determining 406 if the mobile device has accessed the firstdigital amenity from the network apparatus; accessing 408 a seconddigital amenity from a computing device outside the store to be kept atthe network apparatus, in view of the determining that the first digitalamenity has been accessed; and storing 410 the second digital amenity inthe network apparatus. The second digital amenity in the networkapparatus enhances transmitting the second digital amenity from thenetwork apparatus to the mobile device if the mobile device is at thestore.

FIGS. 9A-B show examples or attributes of digital amenities according todifferent embodiments. In one example, a store's web page can provide acatalogue of digital amenities, which can include, for example,previously printed matters, such as e-newspaper, e-magazines, maps(which can be maps of local areas), and e-books; music; video; andadvertisements. And the user can select to consume the desired amenityfrom the catalogue. In one embodiment, the user accesses the store'sdigital amenities through a store application.

In one embodiment, a catalogue of digital amenities can depend on usage.For example, the catalogue is dynamic and it changes depending on use.To illustrate, a user tries to access a magazine. Before the access, thecatalogue does not have the magazine. After the request by the user, themagazine is downloaded into the ENAP of the store, and the catalogue isupdated to include the magazine. In another example, a catalogue isdynamic and it changes based on the store's location. To illustrate, thecatalogue of a book store in Silicon Valley has more technology-relatedbusiness information, while a book store in Hollywood has moremovie-related information.

In another embodiment, the store's amenities can be tailored to thestore, with examples shown in FIG. 9B according to differentembodiments.

In one example, stores can be categorized under different categories.The categories can be by industries, such as banks, law firms, andrestaurants. The categories can follow the categorizations in yellowpages. There can be a hierarchy of categories. For example, within acategory, there can be sub-categories. For example, within a category oneating, there can be bakeries, bar & grills, Chinese restaurants,Mexican restaurants, and family-style restaurants. The categories can becity specific. The store can belong to at least one category. In oneembodiment, at least some of the amenities are tailored to the at leastone category.

The tailoring can be related to subject matter within the store or ofthe store, such as about the store's products; or related to thelocation of the store, such as local information.

There are different types of information related to subject matterwithin the store or of the store. One example is related to the store'sidentity, such as a digital signage of the store; or the store's webpage, which can be the store's Facebook page, or a social connectionsite of the store.

In one embodiment, the store has a pre-existing website or Facebookpage. The digital amenity regarding the store's website can beenhancements to the store's pre-existing website. In this example, thedigital identity of the store is maintained, or substantiallymaintained.

Another example of subject matter related to the store is the store'sproducts/services. If the store is a restaurant, the web page of thestore can include a menu. The web page can also include promotionsrelated to the services/products, such as coupons, specials, and/orrecommendations to potential customers. The user can download thestore's coupon or specials, and order products and/or services using thecoupons. The ordering can be done wirelessly from the user's mobiledevice. Such ordering using the mobile device allows the store to keeptrack of the order being from the user. In another example,recommendations from the store can be based on other users' comments orsuggestions.

In one example, the store is a clothing store and one digital amenity isa virtual fitting room. Beautiful clothing can require a fair amount ofbandwidth. With the ENAP in the store, bandwidth constraint fordownloading different clothing to the user's wireless device issignificantly reduced. In one embodiment, the store is not a clothingstore and the virtual fitting room can be an application for customers,such as girls, to try out different clothing virtually just for fun.

In another example, different publications, such as e-newspapers,e-magazines and e-books, provided in the store's amenities, can betailored to the store. They can be related to what the store offers.

In one approach, digital amenities tailored to the store depend on thelocation of the store, such as information about local people,community, organizations, areas and/or merchants. Typically, these arelocal information.

The local information can be related to local non-profit entities, localgovernment-related entities, local people or local demographics. Forexample, the amenities can be local community information (such as localcommunity events); information of the city where the store is located;local government information; announcements related to local areas;local news and/or local directories. Other local information provided tothe user as a form of amenities can be from local for-profit entities,including real estate listings and rentals.

In one embodiment, the location of the store can change from time totime. For example, the store is a moving object, such as a ship. As theship moves from port to port, the catalogue of digital amenitieschanges. To illustrate, as the ship moves from France to Italy, thelanguage of the catalogue changes from French to Italian. For anotherexample, as a mass transit, such as a train, goes from one stop to thenext, at least some of the digital amenities provided by an ENAP in thetrain change.

In one embodiment, the local information includes advertisement ofproducts/services from local or neighboring shops. They can be shopstypically complementary to the store, or they do not compete with thestore.

In another embodiment, the store provides a digital bulletin board as anamenity in a store application. The board can be used by neighboringshops. For example, a neighboring bookstore can post a sale to thedigital bulletin board of the store (e.g. a coffee shop); a neighboringbakery shop posts its menu onto the digital bulletin board of the store(e.g. a bookstore); nearby laundries post onto the store's bulletinboard their services and pricing information; and a sandwich deli postsits specials of the day onto the bulletin board of the store (e.g. aclinic) an hour before lunch hour.

In one embodiment, the store's digital bulletin board can allow thestore to post store pictures, videos, and other special announcementsregarding the store (such as holiday specials, Monday Night Footballspecials and upcoming sales in a week).

In one embodiment, the store application allows the user to post a pieceof information on the bulletin board. The store may require the user toobtain a key in order to post the piece of information. In one example,the user will be given a key if the user orders a product/service fromthe store. The piece of information posted by the user can be, forexample, an announcement by the user, a greeting card from the user, ane-invite by the user, and a comment by the user. The piece ofinformation can be in text, images, audio and/or video. The piece ofinformation can be from the user's mobile device.

In one example, the piece of information from the user is anannouncement by the user. The announcement can be related to looking fora person, such as looking for a nanny, a math tutor, a roommate or alost person; looking for a thing, such as an apartment or a missing dog;or a personal announcement, such as a garage sale or just got married.

In another example, the piece of information from the user is a greetingcard and/or an e-invite from the user. In one embodiment, the storeprovides a gallery of digital media, such as from the ENAP. The user canselect from the digital media and then subsequently add additionalinformation to the selection. For example, the user can select from agallery of e-card templates offered by the ENAP, and subsequentlypersonalize the selected e-card by adding a note to it or signing it. Inone example, the user can post an e-card to friends through, forexample, social network sites, email or instant messaging.

In one approach, the store application can add the store signature tothe piece of information posted by the user, indicating the piece ofinformation being generated at the store. The signature can be one ormore of the following: the store's name, logo, identity, and picture.The signature can also include the store's location. An example of asignature is ‘a customer of Starbucks at the corner of Mary & SunnyvaleAve.’ Such signature can help promote the store.

In yet another example, the piece of information from the user is acomment from the user. The comments can be related to the digitalamenities consumed by or provided to the user. For example, the storeapplication includes an e-reader component allowing the user to reade-newspaper or e-magazine. The e-newspaper can prompt the user to sharean opinion, such as via a poll. The e-reader invokes the storeapplication to create a box, such as a dialog box, for the user toprovide a comment. After the user enters the comment into the box, thestore application can insert a store signature to the comment andsubmits them to the e-reader. Then the e-reader posts the comment to thecorresponding materials, such as the e-newspaper or e-magazine. Inaddition, the store application can post the comment and a reference tothe materials being commented onto the digital bulletin board.

In one embodiment, the ENAP and/or its back-end server keeps track ofprior use of or prior interactions with the mobile device of the user inthe store. Based on such tracked information, a user profile regardingthe user can be built. FIG. 10 shows a number of attributes of a userprofile according to different embodiments.

In one embodiment, the user being tracked is a child. The child'sguardian, such as the child's parents, can access the child's use. Forexample, the name of the game the child has been playing and theduration the child has been playing are kept tracked of. The parents canbe given authorization to access such usage by the child. The access canbe via the web.

In another embodiment, the store's server can generate the user'sprofile. In one approach, the store is related to a number of stores,such as a chain of stores. The store's server can access users'information from the number of stores. If the user's prior interactionswith one or more of these stores are tracked, the server can aggregatethe user's information from the multiple stores to generate the userprofile. Recommendations to the user or to other users can be providedto the user based on such information. As another example, the ENAPkeeps track of the user's immediate prior usage during a prior visit andsuggests the user to continue where she left off from her prior visit.To illustrate, the user was at a certain page of an e-book and isinformed of that page during the next visit. Or updates regarding whatthe user is interested in can be sent to the user. For example, the userhas spent a lot of time on a book regarding Lego Star Wars in a priorvisit. When a new edition of Lego magazine is available, the storeapplication would automatically ask the user if the user wants to readit when the user is at the store again. As another illustration, theENAP keeps track of at least some of the user's interactions in playinga game. When the user returns, the ENAP can ask whether the user wouldlike to resume playing the game.

In one example, tailoring can be to both the store and to the user. Forexample, an ENAP can be configured to keep track of a prior use of afirst digital amenity by a user at a store via the wireless device atthe store. The prior use is subsequently analyzed and based on theanalysis, a second digital amenity from a computing device outside thestore is stored at the ENAP. In one embodiment, the analysis can be doneat the ENAP. In another embodiment, the analysis can be performed at thecomputing device. The second digital amenity at the storage moduleenhances accessing the second digital amenity from the ENAP by themobile device at the store upon the user's subsequent arrival at thestore. Both the first and the second digital amenities can be tailoredto the store.

Different examples of tailored information or digital amenities can beproactively downloaded to the user's mobile device. This can be donesuch as by prediction software.

In one embodiment, the store has different stations, such as differenttables or rooms. FIG. 11 shows a number of attributes regarding a storestation according to different embodiments. For example, the store is arestaurant and each station can be a table with a table number. The usercan order food from the store's website and enter the table number. Thensomeone from the store can deliver the food ordered to the table. In oneembodiment, to ensure that the user has entered the right table number,the store application would ask the user to enter the table number morethan once, such as once before selecting the items and a second timeafter selecting the items.

In one approach, there are additional sensor(s) in the store to helpidentify the location of the user or the user's mobile device in thestore. For example, there can be a physical connector, such as a USBconnector, at the table of the user. If the user connects her mobiledevice to the connector, the location of the device within the storewould be more accurately identified. Another approach can be based onhaving at least three network access points in the store to identify thelocation of the user via triangulation techniques, which should be knownto those skilled in the art. Yet another approach is to give a storedevice to the user when she enters the store. There can be multiplesensors in the store to sense the location of the store device. Anexample of such a store device is a RFID tag. By knowing the location ofthe user in the store, the store can tailor amenities in view of suchlocation to the user. For example, if the user is sitting at the bararea of the store, liquor advertisements can be provided to the user'smobile device.

In one embodiment, a station in the store can serve as an e-room. Forexample, the store application includes an e-room module. FIG. 12 showsa number of attributes of an e-room according to different embodiments.The ENAP in the store can host multiple e-rooms. With the ENAP hostinge-rooms in the store, again bandwidth and/or latency limitation inaccessing information by users in the e-rooms can be significantlyreduced. However, due to computational capacity and/or storage capacitylimitation, the number of e-rooms the ENAP can host can be limited. Ifsuch constraint does occur and if the store wants more e-rooms, thestore can install additional ENAPs.

A group of users, each with a mobile device, can use an e-room in thestore. In one approach, they can choose the e-room digital amenities byselecting an unoccupied e-room, or opening an e-room. Each of them canget a code from the store, such as from a store application. The codefrom the store can be provided by the store e-room module in the storeapplication. All the users in the room can use the same code. Based onthe code, the devices of the users can be networked together. In anotherapproach, one of the users can serve as the host. That user can obtain acode or a key from the store to open or to use an unoccupied e-room. Ifthe store is a restaurant, the user can be given a key by ordering food.

Depending on the embodiments, the users in an e-room can share screensand/or share applications. In one approach, each station can have one ormore monitors or TVs, such as HDTV or IPTV. There can be a TV set on thetable of the user for personalized IPTV. For example, the ENAP canconnect the devices of the users in the group to a TV. The users canshare their materials on and interact through the TV.

An e-room in the store can be for different applications, such as forsharing what they are working on or playing with, chatting, sharingnotes, and/or collaborating together. In one embodiment, the user isusing an e-room to play games, such as a video game or a Wii game. Theuser can serve as the host user and start a game in the e-room. The gamecan be a chess game, mahjong, bridge, a multi-person shooting game (e.g.Halo Reach), and a single-person social game (e.g. Farmville). The usercan invite other users to join by posting an invitation on the e-room.The invitation can include a picture of the user. In one embodiment, theinvitation is to other(s), asking if they would join the user to playthe game. In another embodiment, the invitation is to other(s), askingif they would like to watch or observe the playing of the game.

In one approach, another user using e-room digital amenities sees thegame room invitation. There can be different types of invitation and/orrequest. For example, one invitation can be for participating, the otherobservation. The another user asks to enter the game room to play. Ifthe host user accepts the request, the another user can join the hostuser. They can start playing chess, for example. A third user usinge-room digital amenities can ask to enter the e-room to observe. In oneapproach, an observer is automatically accepted, without the host user'spermission. Another approach needs the host user's permission before thethird user can join. Upon joining, the third user can observe the game,or the game is presented to the third user. This observation functiondoes not have to be simultaneous with the game being played. Forexample, if the game is a chess game, the store application can recordthe moves of both players and plays them back from the beginning to thethird player.

In one embodiment, there can be at least one commentator for a game,such as a two player, turn-based game, such as chess. The commentator,being an observer, can comment on the game. In one approach, the playersare aware of the comments made by the commentator and/or can see thecommentator. In another embodiment, the players are not aware of thecomments made by the commentator and/or cannot see the commentator.

As another example, users can be playing a shooting game. With the ENAPhosting the game, the users in the e-room are on the same local network.In this situation, the latency or network signal jitter caused by thelocal network is minimal, or is much less than using a wide areanetwork. This translates to better response and playing experience.

In yet another example, the e-room can be used as a chat room. The usercan select an unoccupied chat room and posts invitation inviting othersto join. The invitation can be for a group of friends at the store. Whenthey see the host user's invitation, they ask to join. The host user canaccept their requests and subsequently close the chat room to otherusers, such as by removing the invitation. In this example, after thehost user closes the room, the closed room can be marked as occupied,with no invitation. Other users would be restricted from joining. Inanother example, the group of friends can use the chat room for anactivity such as watching a video, reading an e-book, and working on asubject matter. The subject matter can be a study group. As anillustration, the subject matter can be strategizing on an upcomingbaseball game, and digital promotional materials regarding baseball canbe sent to the group. In another illustration, the group can be readingan e-book or an article together; they can post and share comments withother users in the group.

In one embodiment, e-room(s) are for a restaurant. In this example, eache-room can include a side bar for ordering food, or the side bar canpost a menu.

Another type of digital amenities is to provide a local search engine tothe user. FIG. 13 shows a number of attributes of a local search engineaccording to different embodiments. A store application can provide asearch engine that is aware of the location of the store, with thesearch results depending on the location. For example, the engine canprovide search results that are local in nature, such as localdirectories, local phone book, local businesses, local news, localtravel guide, local cuisine, local customs, local fashion, local styleand/or local community information. The search can help determine whereto grab a fast lunch close to the store, where to find the closest ATM,maids for hire, rooms for rent or houses in the neighborhood for sale.For example, the store application can provide a dialog box that allowsthe user to search. When the user enters her query, the storeapplication can ask the user whether she wants the search results to belocal in nature. If the answer is affirmative, in one approach, thestore application could further provide a number of distance options forthe user to select, such as within 5, 10 or 15 miles, or in the city orcounty of the store. The default can be 10 miles. Based on the user'sresponse, the store application can automatically add additional termsin the query to limit the search results. For example, if the user justwants search results to be from the city of the store, before the queryis submitted to a general search engine (such as from Google), the storeapplication can add the city name into the query. In one example, thestore application can add the store physical address (such as names ofintersecting streets closest to the store) into the query. In anotherembodiment, without asking the user, the store application filters thesearch results such that the search results local to the store (such aswithin ten miles) are ranked higher or placed earlier than the resultsthat are not local to the store.

In one embodiment, the search engine is also aware of the productsand/or services provided by the store, with the search results dependingon such. The engine can include a database of websites that are removedfrom the search results. For example, the store's competitors areremoved from the search results. All price comparison websites can beremoved from the search results, such as for a store that sellsproducts. Whether a site is removed can depend on time and/or bandwidthrequirements of the search results. For example, a fast food store maynot want a customer to spend too much time at the store. Such a storecan remove games that require more than a predetermined amount of timeto finish. Or such a store can remove games that exceed a predeterminedamount of bandwidth because such games may be more complex and require along time to play. In another embodiment, the search engine can allowcustomers to remove certain websites from search results. For example,customers can activate parental control to remove sites that areage-inappropriate.

In one embodiment, store owners can get advertising income from theirneighboring businesses by allowing those businesses to post informationon the store's website, or to be higher up in the search results fromthe store's search engine.

In yet another embodiment, cookies from websites accessed by customers'devices are not stored at the devices. For example, websites see thestore's ENAP accessing, but not the corresponding customers' devices.This can provide anonymous browsing, and can protect kids.

There can be different types of transaction choices or businessarrangements between the store and an entity that provides amenities.FIG. 14A shows examples of transaction choices between a store and theentity according to different embodiments. In one example, the entityprovides the store's ENAP, and pays the store periodically (e.g. amonthly fee) to have the ENAP at the store. The entity can install theENAP for the store. The entity can be allowed to provide promotionalmaterials, and to collect user information. An entity can be a publisherof digital information, and can push different amenities, which can betailored information, to the ENAP. Instead of providing the ENAP, inanother example, the entity can subscribe to a logical space at thestore's ENAP. To illustrate, Hearst, being the publisher of magazines(such as Esquire) and newspaper (such as SF Chronicles), can run adigital news stand at the ENAP by leasing digital space from the store'sENAP. The ENAP can be connected to the servers of multiple entities toget information or digital amenities from them. These multiple entities,each can lease digital spaces from the store. In another example,instead of an entity paying the store, the store can subscribe to ENAPservices from the entity. In yet another example, the store can get acommission or share revenue with the entity providing the ENAP ordigital amenities at the store's ENAP.

There can also be different transaction choices or business arrangementsbetween the store and the user(s). FIG. 14B shows examples oftransaction choices between a store and a user according to differentembodiments. For example, the user can access digital amenities at thestore free of charge; and/or purchase/subscribe with or without adiscount for consumption of digital amenities at the store only, and/orout of the store also. In different embodiments, the store can keeptrack of the user's interactions or usage regarding the differentamenities. Depending on the arrangement, an entity providing digitalamenities to the store can also keep track of and use such userinformation to the entity's advantage.

Different types of digital amenities/information have been described indifferent embodiments. For example, digital amenities applicable todifferent types of stores can include digital version of flyers,postcards, e-invites, posters, community newsletters, communityannouncements, user postings (e.g., apartment rental, job posting,employee seeking, house maid seeking, and lost & found), comic strips,event announcements, podcasts, games, coloring books/drawings for kids,blank papers for posting different information (e.g., drawings), flashcards, web articles, blogs and different apps. Other examples of digitalamenities include a supermarket providing recipes on how to cookbutternut squash; a kitchen appliance store offering tutorial on how tofix a broken dishwasher; a hardware store giving names of local trustedcontractors; and a clothing store giving suggestions to a female shopperon what styles of clothing would complement a petit size woman.

A number of embodiments have been described regarding a user. The usercan be a person who is a customer of the store. In another embodiment,the user can be a client of the store, or a paying guest of the store.

A number of embodiments have been described for stores or shops. Suchestablishments can provide services/products to customers and havephysical presence. They can have small footprints, such as kiosks (e.g.a kiosk in a mall) or stands (e.g. a hot dog stands on a street). In theexample of a kiosk or a small mobile retailer such as a hot dog standbeing a store, in one embodiment, its ENAP could be the center of thestore. The perimeter of the store could be wireless coverage area of theENAP. This wireless coverage area can be set by the signal and/or powerstrength of the ENAP. The coverage area can be set by the business. Itcan be just a few feet, ten ft or so, or a few tens of ft from the ENAP.

A store can have footprints larger than a hot dog stand, such asrestaurants, local boutiques, salons (e.g. hair salons, beauty salons),shops (e.g. specialty shops), entertainment centers, community centers,lounges, bars, clinics, small hotels, airplanes, trains, buses, ferriesor cruises; and even larger footprints, such as a chain of stores orrestaurants (e.g. franchised stores), shopping malls, business plazas,hospitals, resorts, airports or multi-tenants buildings, such asapartment complex. Also, in one embodiment, a store does not have to beabsolutely fixed all the time at a location, relative to the user. Forexample, a store can be a food truck or a mobile venue that sells food.

A number of embodiments have been described regarding an ENAP at astore. In one embodiment, an ENAP is at a user's home. For example, astore can offer an ENAP to a customer to allow the customer to installthe ENAP at home. Subsequently, the customer can access the store'sdigital amenities from home via the ENAP. In one embodiment, a home or aperson's house can be considered a store.

In one embodiment, a store can be a physical school, such as anelementary school. Specific contents can be preloaded into an ENAPbefore a class starts. The content can be classroom and/or teacherdependent. In another embodiment, the content can also be time orschedule dependent. For example, a student is assigned to a specificclassroom with a specific teacher. In that classroom, there can be theENAP with contents preloaded for that teacher in that classroom. Adifferent class can have different contents preloaded for the student.The preloading can be done wirelessly, via the Internet. The schoolcould have a campus network to assist in the preloading.

The school can preload grade-level contents into the ENAP. The contentscan be based on, for example, standard syllabus of the State/country orschool district. The contents can include the school syllabus, withlearning materials in modules arranged in a hierarchical format based onthe syllabus.

Teachers or other school personnel can enhance the contents. Suchenhancement can be done before the start of the class, such as beforethe start of a school year, or before the start of a class on the nextday.

Before class, the teacher can update the learning or teaching plan forthe class to generate a class-specific learning plan. This can be basedon the school's preloaded content. In another example, the update can befor individual student in the class to generate a student-specificlearning plan. Assuming that the ENAP includes the student's informationsuch as the student's learning progress, the teacher can access thestudent's learning progress from the ENAP. Then the teacher can updatethe student's learning plan to tailor the plan for the student. Allthese updates can be done remotely even when the teacher is not atschool. The teacher can be at home preparing for the class. The teachercan remotely download different contents to the ENAP, such asapplications, videos, animations, simulations, music, animateddemonstrations, class libraries, ebooks, assignment, otherpresentations, etc.

During class, students in a classroom, or some of the students in theclassroom, can be allowed to work in a self-guided manner using theircomputing devices via the ENAP. This can be during their quiet readingtime, assignment time etc. In one embodiment, the ENAP allows thestudents to access the pre-loaded contents, but does not allow thestudents to freely access or roam the web. In another embodiment,students are allowed to access the Internet or one or more specificwebsite/webpage. This access can be guided by the pre-loaded contents inthe ENAP and/or by the teacher.

There can be different approaches to guide or control access to theInternet. For example, the ENAP can require a key before one can accessthe Internet, and the pre-loaded content can provide the key. In anotherapproach, the teacher's computing device is connected to the ENAP, andthe ENAP asks the teacher's device for authorization to access theInternet. Instead of asking for authorization, the ENAP can get the keyfrom the teacher's device. Note that a student may only be allowed toaccess a specific website. This can be done, for example, with the keyincluding the url of the specific website, or the teacher couldauthorize the url of the specific web-site's to the ENAP.

The ENAP can provide individually-tailored contents to a student. Thetailoring can be based on the preloaded individual learning plan. Inanother embodiment, the ENAP intelligently tailors learning materialsdynamically generated for or provided to the student. This can be done,for example, via assessing applications in the ENAP that can assess thestudent's strengths and weaknesses. The assessment can be performed asthe student progresses through the materials at the ENAP. The assessmentcan compare the student to other students in the same class, in otherclass(es) and/or in other school(s). For example, there can be differenttypes of individual tailoring, such as different spelling lists,different reading lists, different sequences of the materials to be read(students may get same list but different order to read), different mathexercises, different assignments tailored for different levels ofdifficulties, (such as reading levels, math levels, and music instrumentlevels), different speech learning plans, and different role rotationplans for group assignments/projects.

To illustrate, individually-tailored contents can be interactivecontents that extend across many periods, such as throughout a term.Students can be learning the subject a step at a time across arelatively long duration of time. For example, the contents can behistorical wars/battles, science lab experiments, literature readings,or math learning. The contents can include videos and simulations. Thenbased on a student's behavior, progress and achievements, an ENAP and/ora teacher can constantly update the individualized learning plan for thestudent(s).

As another illustration of individually-tailored materials, the learningcontents can be formatted as an augmented reality game, based on, forexample, virtual reality, such as Second Life. The game can include adigital teaching aid to individually help students learn morecomplicated subjects, piece by piece, one step at a time. For example, astudent is working on a simulated science experiment in virtual reality,and performs an incorrect step in the experiment. The digital teachingaid can be a voice at the background incrementally guiding the studentback to the right procedure. The audio content may be generateddynamically and in real time, for example, based on a set of rules. Asan example, one rule can be, “If the result of step x is y, generate theaudio output of z.” A second rule can be, “If the result of step x is yand the student profile is w, generate the audio output of z.” In thissecond rule, the audio output z also depends on certain characteristicsof the student. To illustrate, if the student is strong in the subject,the audio guidance provided can simply be the right step. However, ifthe student is weak in the subject, the audio guidance provided to thestudent can be more fundamental, such as including not just the rightstep, but also explanation on the concept behind the experiment.

Such student-tailored dynamically generated assistance with the abilityto continually and individually interact with a student can be veryhelpful, particularly when the student is working on a more complicatedsubject. In one example, the ENAP includes the functionalities of atypical interactive game server. In one embodiment, such dynamicassistance is applied to non-virtual reality content or other types ofcontents.

The ENAP can allow the student to work on class assignmentsindividually. In another embodiment, the ENAP can allow a number ofstudents to work as a group on an assignment or project. Multiple groupsof students within the class can be formed. The ENAP can providedifferent E-rooms for the different groups. The ENAP can also provide abulletin board for the students in the class to share information withtheir classmates. For example, students can share drawings, projects,photos, and homework in their E-rooms and/or the bulletin board.

As a number of students are working via the ENAP, the teacher canmonitor their interactions and/or behavior in real time via the ENAP. Orthe teacher can walk around the classroom to look over the shoulders ofthe students to see how they are doing. In another embodiment,interactions with the ENAP are recorded to allow monitoring at a latertime.

With some of the students working via the ENAP, the teacher could spendmore time to individually work with some other students, such asstudents that need more help. In another embodiment, the school may beable to cut expenses by reducing the need for teaching assistants, orthe number of hours the teacher needs to work. Instead of cuttingexpenses, the school may be able to increase the number of students in aclassroom.

When the class is over or after school, in one embodiment, students canwirelessly access materials from the ENAP, such as to work onassignments, or to access information from the class library. Thestudents need authorization to access the contents in the ENAP, such asby entering a password. Note that the teachers or the school can controlthe contents accessible by the students. Certain contents may berestricted from access outside the classroom. For example, materials onsex/drug educations can only be accessed in the classroom.

The teacher also can wirelessly access the ENAP to review the students'learning progress and/or to update the students' learning plans. Reportsregarding the students can be generated by the ENAP with informationtabulated by the teacher or by the ENAP automatically. In oneembodiment, parents or guardians of the students are authorized or aregranted permission to wirelessly access their corresponding students'performance, progress and/or reports stored in the ENAP.

A number of embodiments have been described regarding an ENAP in aschool or in a classroom. Note that there can be more than one ENAP in aschool. For example, there can be one ENAP per classroom, one ENAP for anumber of neighboring classrooms, one ENAP for the library in theschool, one ENAP for a number of students (such as 25 students and 60students), one ENAP in a gym, or one ENAP in a laboratory. There canalso be more than one ENAP in any of the above examples.

In one embodiment, digital amenities can be preloaded into an ENAP forlocal access at an event. For example, contents can be preloaded intothe ENAP by an organizer of the event. The organizer can be the personin charge of the place where the event would be held. Or the ENAP candynamically preload contents based on recent behavior of a patron to theevent.

In one embodiment, the contents preloaded are specific to the event. Forexample, the event is a planned field trip from a school this afternoon,and the contents are related to the trip. As another example, the eventis book-reading in a library with an author. The organizer can be alibrarian or a publisher, who can pre-load the specific e-book and othere-books by the same author, books with related subject matter, andvideo/movies on or related to the book, into the ENAP. The pre-loadedcontents can include not just the subject matter regarding the event,but can also include materials related to the subject matter. Oneassumption is that patrons to the event are interested in the subjectmatter of the event, implying that the patrons may also be interested inmaterials related to the subject matter. Examples of other events can bea movie watching event for seniors, a musical session for a dancingparty, a video/presentation for a city council, and a neighborhoodmeeting at a library.

As another example, the event is a conference, which can be held in ahotel or a conference center. Preloaded contents can include conferencepresentations, author/speaker biographies and related subject matters.For example, the preloaded contents can be preview videos of a show tobe held during that evening at the hotel or at a nearby hotel.

In another embodiment, the preloaded content can be tailored to a patronof the event. For example, a patron could be at a similar event puttogether by the organizer. Based on past interactions/usage/behavior ofthe patron at the past event, the organizer can preload contents thepatron should be interested into the ENAP. To illustrate, the patronaccessed NY Times while he was at a prior event. NY Times on the day ofthe current event are preloaded during pre-dawn hours onto the ENAP.Based on the patron's known interest/recent behavior, related materialscan be preloaded also. For example, if the user is interested in healthissues (as shown by her past/recent access of health articles), a localhealth club's discount coupon is preloaded and presented to the patronat the event.

Note that a typical conference can last for more than one day. Thenbased on the patron's earlier access, the ENAP can preload similar orrelated information for the patron. For example, on day one of theconference, the patron watched a specific prime time TV show during lastbreak time at the conference. Then, before day two, the ENAP preloadsthe same prime time TV show broadcasted on day two before the last breaktime. Then if the patron tries to access the show during the last breaktime on day two, the accessing speed could be much faster, significantlyimproving viewing satisfaction. In another approach, before the lastbreak time on day two, after the download, the ENAP can proactively askwhether the patron wants to watch the show.

An organizer of an event may have license only to certain contents. Asan example, the organizer does not have the license to preload aspecific content into the ENAP. Instead of preloading that content, theENAP preloads a licensed content (or content the organizer has thelicense to preload) that is related to the specific content. Toillustrate, during day one of a conference, a patron wirelessly accessesthrough a mobile device and reads Fortune Magazine. The organizer of theevent does not have license to preload Fortune, but has license topreload Forbes. Then during the night of day one, Forbes is preloadedinto the ENAP. When the patron arrives on day two, the ENAP recommendsForbes to the patron. As another illustration, again the ENAP haspreloaded Financial Times based on a prior license agreement, but notWall Street Journal due to the lack of a prior license. Then patrons atthe event can access the preloaded Financial Times from the ENAP withminimal delay. However, a patron accessing the WSJ through the Internetwould experience unpredictable delay due to, for example, congestion ofthe Internet access by other patrons at the event.

Note that other digital amenities can also preload into the ENAP forlocal access at an event, such as e-newspaper, e-magazine, e-books,video, TV shows, music, and other contents popular to many at that time.In another embodiment, advertising related to the event can bepreloaded. The advertising can also be related to a patron's specificinterest, which can be based on the patron's past/recent behavior.

A number of embodiments have been described relating to using an ENAPfor local access of contents at a school or at an event. In oneembodiment, the content can be automatically downloaded to a computingdevice of a pre-registered user when the user is within the ENAP range.To illustrate, during the beginning of a school year or a semester, astudent registers for or is assigned to a class. Assume that the studentis using the mobile device that he would be using in class to go to theschool's website to register. During registration, the school's websitecan give the student a student ID. That ID can be automaticallydownloaded and stored in the device. For example, the website can storethe ID in the device's cookie. However, if the student is not using thesame mobile device to register, the registration process can suggest thestudent to add the student ID into the specific mobile device to be usedin class. For example, the school can require the student to registerhis mobile device to be used. The school can ask the student to accessthe school's website using that mobile device. When the student accessesthe website with that device, an application with the student ID fromthe website can be downloaded into the device. The application can bethe device's ENAP client software.

Subsequently, a class roster, including the student ID together with theclass schedule for that class, can be downloaded to the ENAP for thatclass. Throughout the semester, every school day as the student getsinto the classroom of that class, the mobile device registers with theENAP in the classroom. This can happen when the device is in a low powermode, such as a standby mode. For example, the device has multipleprocessors, including a low-power broadband processor that is constantlymonitoring for wireless signals even when the device is in a low-powermode. When the device senses the ENAP's wireless signals, thepreviously-downloaded application in the device can allow the ENAP toaccess the student ID stored in the device. If the ENAP recognizes thestudent ID and determines that the student should be in that class atthat time (based on, for example, the schedule and/or class roster inthe ENAP), the ENAP can automatically push and activate the applicationto receive the lecture notes and/or other pre-determined materials forthe student on that day into the device. So, even before the studentplaces his backpack onto his desk, the contents may have already beendownloaded. Then when the student opens his mobile device, the contentsare ready and waiting for the student.

As explained in the above embodiment, a registered student could accessclass contents when the student is physically close to the ENAP atcertain preset time frame. If the student is far away from the ENAP orif the student is not there at the scheduled time of the class, the ENAPdoes not have to make the contents available to the student. One benefitof such guided access based on location (such as in a classroom) andtime (such as during school hour) can be for student safety. With suchcontrol, the student would not be allowed to go and roam around theInternet without supervision. Instead, specific contents pre-approved bythe school can be automatically provided to the student in class.

In one embodiment, contents loaded into the student's device can beremoved from the device under certain conditions, such as at the end ofthe class, or after the student exits from the classroom. The ENAP cannotify the device to remove the content based on, for example, the classschedule or when the device is de-registered. De-registration can occurwhen the student logs off from the class session, or turns off thedevice. The student can also be notified of such removal. For example,when the student logs off from the class, the student is notified viathe mobile device that the contents would not be accessible and/or wouldbe removed from the device. There can be different pre-determinedaccessing rules to control accessing the contents in the device. Therecan also be different pre-determined restriction rules to restrictaccessing the contents at, or to remove the contents from, the device.

The above example is for a student. Another example can be for aconference attendee. The process can be similar. To illustrate, theattendee can register her mobile device with the conference and downloada conference application onto the device. Then a presentation withrelated materials can be automatically downloaded to the device of thepre-registered attendee when the attendee is approaching or physicallyinside the conference room of the presentation.

The following provides another example of how a user consumes digitalamenities at a store, which, in this case, is a coffee shop. Judy, theuser, goes to a small coffee shop, Aroma Coffee and Amenities. Aftersitting down, Judy takes out her e-book reading device and connects tothe store's WiFi network. Then Judy logs onto the store's website,www.aromaca.com. The website offers a coupon to buy a cup of espressoand to get a free bagel with cream cheese. Judy gets the coupon, entersher table number and places the order with the coupon using her readingdevice. As a courtesy of the store, the store's website offers acatalogue of magazines for the user to read at the coffee shop. Judyselects Women's Health to read. Ten minutes later, a waiter delivers hercoffee and bagel. After she is done and is ready to leave, Judy exitsthe store's website, which stops her from reading the magazine. Beforeshe exits the store's website, she is offered to subscribe to Women'sHealth for a year at a 75% discount of the retail price. Judy likes thearticles in the magazine and decides to subscribe. After Judy hassubscribed to the magazine, Aroma Coffee and Amenities gets a commissionfrom Women's Health. Also, through the reading device, the store keepstrack of Judy's order and her subscription. Next time when Judy goes toAroma Coffee and Amenities with her reading device, the store's webpageis modified to tailor to Judy. For example, when Judy logs onto thestore's website, prominently placed on the site is memberships to localsports club, such as a local 24-Hour Fitness, and discounts from localsports stores, and a coupon for the store's muffin.

Different embodiments of the ENAP offer different advantages for thestore and its users. Each store at a specific location is typicallycatered to a specific type of users at that location. An ENAP can offera way to promote and sell products/services, digital and/or physical,that can be more targeted to the preference and/or other characteristicsof the users, which can lead to more sales, higher satisfaction and/ormore return users. As to the users, they could get instant gratificationbased on both the products/services offered by the store, and theadditional digital amenities, with the help of the store's ENAP. Sincethe additional digital amenities can be targeted to the users, the usersare typically more satisfied. And since the users are relatively closeto the ENAP, bandwidth and latency constraints to access at least thedigital amenities in the ENAP can be significantly reduced.

The various embodiments, implementations and features of the inventionnoted above can be combined in various ways or used separately. Thoseskilled in the art will understand from the description that theinvention can be equally applied to or used in other various differentsettings with respect to various combinations, embodiments,implementations or features provided in the description herein.

The invention can be implemented in software, hardware or a combinationof hardware and software. A number of embodiments of the invention canalso be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readablemedium. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that canstore data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examplesof the computer readable medium include read-only memory, random-accessmemory, CD-ROMs, magnetic tape, optical data storage devices, andcarrier waves. The computer readable medium can also be distributed overnetwork-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code isstored and executed in a distributed fashion.

Numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. However, it will become obviousto those skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced withoutthese specific details. The description and representation herein arethe common meanings used by those experienced or skilled in the art tomost effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled inthe art. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components,and circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring aspects of the present invention.

Also, in this specification, reference to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment can beincluded in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances ofthe phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specificationare not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor areseparate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of otherembodiments. Further, the order of blocks in process flowcharts ordiagrams representing one or more embodiments of the invention do notinherently indicate any particular order nor imply any limitations inthe invention.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from a consideration of this specification or practice of theinvention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spiritof the invention being indicated by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method by a network apparatus to at leasthelp a mobile device of a user, when the mobile device is in a store, toaccess digital amenities of the store via the network apparatus in alocal network associated to the store, instead of via a computing devicenot in the store, with the network apparatus (a) storing at least adomain name and an IP address of the network apparatus; and (b)connected to the mobile device in the store through the local network,and connected to the computing device not in the store at least via theInternet; and with the network apparatus previously having (i) receiveda request, at least to obtain a domain name for accessing at least adigital amenity, to the computing device not in the store, from themobile device via the local network, based on an app associated with thestore, with the app stored in the mobile device; (ii) sent the requestto the computing device not in the store at least via the Internet;(iii) received a response to the request, from the computing device notin the store, with the response including the domain name of the networkapparatus; and (iv) sent the domain name of the network apparatus to themobile device at least via the local network, wherein the methodcomprises: receiving a request for a first digital amenity from the userusing the mobile device, based on the app associated with the store inthe mobile device and based on the domain name of the network apparatus;in view of the first digital amenity not in the network apparatus,gaining access to the first digital amenity from the computing devicenot in the store, and storing the first digital amenity in the networkapparatus; receiving a request for a second digital amenity from theuser using the mobile device, based on the app associated with the storein the mobile device and based on the domain name of the networkapparatus; retrieving the second digital amenity in the networkapparatus, in view of the second digital amenity previously stored inthe network apparatus, the second digital amenity in the networkapparatus being previously received from the computing device not in thestore; and sending the second digital amenity to the mobile device viathe local network.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1 comprisingaccessing a third digital amenity at least via the Internet, and storingthe third digital amenity in the network apparatus, at least in view ofreceiving the request for the second digital amenity from the user, inanticipation of the third digital amenity to be later requested.
 3. Themethod as recited in claim 1 comprising accessing a third digitalamenity at least via the Internet, and storing the third digital amenityin the network apparatus, at least in view of an attribute of the user,in anticipation of the user later requesting the third digital amenity.4. The method as recited in claim 1 comprising deleting a third digitalamenity previously stored in the network apparatus at least in view of alack of access of the third digital amenity for a duration of time. 5.The method as recited in claim 1 comprising enabling a plurality ofusers to digitally interact via the local network.
 6. A non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium in a network apparatus comprising atleast computer program code stored thereon to at least help a mobiledevice of a user, when the mobile device is in a store, to accessdigital amenities of the store via the network apparatus in a localnetwork associated to the store, instead of via a computing device notin the store, with the digital amenities including at least anapplication, with the application previously stored in the networkapparatus, and with the network apparatus (a) including at least anapplication server for at least the application, (b) storing at least adomain name and an IP address of the network apparatus; (c) connected tothe mobile device in the store through the local network, and (d)connected to the computing device not in the store at least via theInternet, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage mediumcomprises: computer program code for receiving a request, at least toobtain a domain name for accessing at least the application, to thecomputing device not in the store, from the mobile device via the localnetwork, based on an app associated with the store, with the app storedin the mobile device; computer program code for sending the request tothe computing device not in the store at least via the Internet;computer program code for receiving a response to the request, from thecomputing device not in the store, with the response including thedomain name of the network apparatus; computer program code for sendingthe domain name of the network apparatus to the mobile device at leastvia the local network; computer program code for receiving a request foraccessing at least the application, to the network apparatus, from themobile device via the local network, based on the app associated withthe store and based on the domain name of the network apparatus;computer program code for executing the application by at least theapplication server in view of the request for accessing at least theapplication; and computer program code for sending a response to themobile device via the local network, at least based on the executing theapplication, to at least establish a session allowing communication. 7.The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim6, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage mediumcomprises: computer program code for receiving a request for data atleast through the session, from the mobile device, via the localnetwork, based on the app associated with the store; and computerprogram code for sending at least the data from the application to theapp associated with the store in the mobile device, at least through thesession, via the local network.
 8. A method by a network apparatus to atleast help a mobile device of a user, when the mobile device is in astore, to access digital amenities of the store via the networkapparatus in a local network associated to the store, instead of via acomputing device not in the store, with the digital amenities includingat least an application, with the application previously stored in thenetwork apparatus, with the mobile device configured to connect to acellular network, and with the network apparatus (a) including at leastan application server for at least the application, (b) storing at leasta domain name and an IP address of the network apparatus; (c) connectedto the mobile device in the store through the local network, and (d)connected to the computing device not in the store at least via a coredata network associated with the cellular network, wherein the methodcomprises: receiving a request, at least to obtain a domain name foraccessing at least the application, to the computing device not in thestore, from the mobile device via the local network, based on an appassociated with the store, with the app stored in the mobile device;sending the request to the computing device not in the store at leastvia the core data network; receiving a response to the request, from thecomputing device not in the store, with the response including thedomain name of the network apparatus; sending the domain name of thenetwork apparatus to the mobile device at least via the local network;receiving a request for accessing at least the application from themobile device via the local network, based on the app associated withthe store and based on the domain name of the network apparatus;executing the application by at least the application server in view ofthe request for accessing at least the application; and sending at leastdata from the application to the mobile device via the local network. 9.The method by a network apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein themethod comprises receiving a request for data at least through thesession, from the mobile device, via the local network, based on the appassociated with the store, and sending at least the data from theapplication to the app associated with the store, at least through thesession, via the local network.
 10. The method by a network apparatus asrecited in claim 9, wherein the sending at least the data from theapplication to the app associated with the store is in view of the datapreviously stored in the network apparatus, and in view of the datapreviously not stored in the network apparatus, the method comprisesgaining access to at least the data from the computing device not in thestore and storing at least the data in the network apparatus.
 11. Themethod by a network apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein theapplication includes a messaging application, at least allowing the userto send and receive messages.
 12. The method by a network apparatus asrecited in claim 11, wherein the messaging application at least allowsthe user to receive videos.
 13. The method by a network apparatus asrecited in claim 8, wherein the application includes a video game,wherein the application server includes a game server, and wherein themethod comprises enabling a plurality of users to join the session toplay the video game, with the plurality of users including the user. 14.The method by a network apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein thevideo game includes a virtual reality game.
 15. The method by a networkapparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the application includes a chatapplication, which enables a plurality of users using electronic devicesto at least chat via the local network, with the plurality of usersincluding the user.
 16. The method by a network apparatus as recited inclaim 15, wherein the method comprises sending at least a video, atleast through the session, to the electronic devices of at least some ofthe users among the plurality of users via the local network.
 17. Themethod by a network apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the videois from one of the plurality of users.
 18. The method by a networkapparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the method comprises receivingdata from the app associated with the store in the mobile device via thelocal network, and sending the data to the computing device not in thestore at least via the core data network.
 19. The method by a networkapparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the store includes a campus,and the local network includes a campus network.
 20. The method by anetwork apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the store includes avehicle.
 21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium asrecited in claim 7, wherein the sending at least the data is in view ofthe data previously stored in the network apparatus, and wherein thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises computerprogram code for gaining access to at least the data from the computingdevice not in the store in view of the data previously not stored in thenetwork apparatus, and storing at least the data in the networkapparatus.
 22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium asrecited in claim 6, wherein the application includes a video game,wherein the application server includes a game server, and wherein thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises computerprogram code for enabling a plurality of users to join the session toplay the video game, with the plurality of users including the user. 23.The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim22, wherein the video game includes a virtual reality game.
 24. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 6,wherein the application includes a chat application, which enables aplurality of users using electronic devices to at least chat via thelocal network, with the plurality of users including the user.
 25. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 24,wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprisescomputer program code for sending at least a video, at least through thesession, to the electronic devices of at least some of the users amongthe plurality of users via the local network.
 26. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium as recited in claim 25, wherein thevideo is from one of the plurality of users.
 27. A network apparatus toat least help a mobile device of a user to access digital amenities,with both the mobile device and the network apparatus in an area coveredby a local network, with the network apparatus associated with a store,with at least a part of the store in the area, and with the networkapparatus comprising: a network interface configured to at least coupleto the mobile device in the area at least via the local network, andconfigured to at least couple to a computing device not in the area atleast via the Internet; a storage module configured to store at least adomain name and an IP address associated with the network apparatus; anda computing module coupled to at least the network interface and thestorage module, wherein the network apparatus is configured to:receiving a request, at least to obtain a domain name for accessing atleast a digital amenity, to the computing device not in the area, fromthe mobile device via the local network, based on an app associated withthe digital amenity, with the app stored in the mobile device; sendingthe request with information regarding the network apparatus to thecomputing device not in the area at least via the Internet; receiving aresponse to the request, from the computing device not in the area, withthe response including the domain name of the network apparatus; andsending the domain name of the network apparatus to the mobile device atleast via the local network, and wherein the network apparatus is alsoconfigured to: receiving a request for a first digital amenity from theuser using the mobile device, based on the app in the mobile device andbased on the domain name of the network apparatus; and in view of thefirst digital amenity not in the network apparatus, gaining access tothe first digital amenity from the computing device not in the area, andstoring the first digital amenity in the network apparatus to allow foruser access.
 28. The network apparatus as recited in claim 27, whereinthe information regarding the network apparatus includes an identifyingaddress of the network apparatus.
 29. The network apparatus as recitedin claim 28, wherein the identifying address of the network apparatusincludes the MAC address of the network apparatus.
 30. The networkapparatus as recited in claim 27, wherein the network apparatus isconfigured to: receiving a request for a second digital amenity from theuser using the mobile device, based on the app in the mobile device andbased on the domain name of the network apparatus; retrieving the seconddigital amenity in the network apparatus, in view of the second digitalamenity previously stored in the network apparatus, the second digitalamenity in the network apparatus being previously received from thecomputing device not in the area; and sending the second digital amenityto the mobile device via the local network.
 31. The network apparatus asrecited in claim 27, wherein the network apparatus is configured toenable users to digitally interact via the local network.
 32. Thenetwork apparatus as recited in claim 27, wherein at least a part of thestore is in a home.
 33. The network apparatus as recited in claim 27,wherein the network apparatus is configured to manage at least a digitalstore for the store.
 34. The network apparatus as recited in claim 27,wherein the digital amenities include at least an application previouslystored in the network apparatus, wherein the network apparatus comprisesat least an application server at least for the at least an application,and wherein the network apparatus is configured to: receiving a requestfor accessing the at least an application from the mobile device via thelocal network, based on the domain name of the network apparatus and atleast an app associated with the at least an application, with the appassociated with the at least an application stored in the mobile device;executing the at least an application by at least the application serverin view of the request for accessing the at least an application; andsending at least data from the at least an application to the mobiledevice via the local network.
 35. The network apparatus as recited inclaim 27, wherein the digital amenities include at least an applicationpreviously stored in the network apparatus, wherein the networkapparatus comprises at least an application server for at least the atleast an application, and wherein the network apparatus is configuredto: receiving a request for accessing the at least an application fromthe mobile device via the local network, based on the domain name of thenetwork apparatus and at least an app associated with the at least anapplication, with the app associated with the at least an applicationstored in the mobile device; executing the at least an application by atleast the application server in view of the request for accessing the atleast an application; and sending a response to the mobile device viathe local network, at least based on the executing the at least anapplication, to at least establish a session allowing communication. 36.The network apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein the networkapparatus is configured to: receiving a request for data at leastthrough the session, from the mobile device, via the local network,based on the app associated with the at least an application; andsending at least the data from the application to the app associatedwith the at least an application in the mobile device, at least throughthe session, via the local network.